Folding table for automobiles



y 7 1957 G. c. ATWILL 2,791,476

FOLDING TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 4, 1956 I INVENTORK G'I/berf C. Afw/l/ United States Patent FOLDING TABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES Gilbert C. Atwill, Artesia, Calif.

Application June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,232

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-21) This invention relates to tables for vehicles or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding table for automobiles which may be used to support refreshments or the like when seated 111 the car.

It is another object of the present invent on to provide a folding table of the above type which may be folded up and out of the way under the dashboard when not in use and completely out of sight, while at the same time being handy and ready to use at all times.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding table bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accoman in drawin in which: p Figu e 1 is a perspective view of apreferred embodimerit of the present invention shown in operative use in an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 22 of Fig. l and illustrating in phantom the inoperative position of the table; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table when folded together and not in use.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, indicates generally the interior of an automobile including the usual instrument board 11 and floor 12, substantially as illustrated.

In the practice of my invention, a table half 13 is hingeably mounted at one end on the undersurface of the instrument board 11 by means of the hinge elements 14, the hinges 14 being adapted to permit the folding of the undersurface of the table half 13 flush against the undersurface of the instrument board 11, as shown in outline in Fig. 2.

A complementary table half 15 is hingeably connected to the adjacent edge of the table half 13 by means of the hinges 16, the latter being adapted to permit the rotation of the table half 15 upwardly onto the table half 13, as shown in Fig. 3.

The table half 15 is retained in operative position rela tive to the table half 13 by means of the brace 17 having one end thereof pivotally connected to the undersurface of the table half 13 at one side by means of the pin 18. The free end of the brace 17 is integrally formed with the L-shaped portion 19 adapted to engage the ad acent edge and upper surface of the table half 15 with the undersurface of the table half 15 resting on the brace 17, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby to retain the half 15 in the operative position. Further support is provided for the table half 15 by the provision on the undersurface thereof of a U-shaped bracket 20 which pivotally mounts the upper end of the rod 21 by means of the pin 22. The lower end of the rod 21 is telescopically received within the tubular leg 23, the position of the rod 21 relative to the tubular leg 23 being locked by means of the thumb screw 24, as will be obvious.

A rubber foot 25 is provided on the lower end of the tubular leg 23. A

U-shaped spring clamp 26 is suitably secured to the undersurface of the table half 15 and is adapted to resiliently retain therewithin the tubular leg 23 when the rod 21 is telescoped entirely within the tubular leg and rotated upwardly onto the undersurface of the tabular portion 15.

Assembly is completed by the provision of a bracket 27 pivotally mounted on the undersurface of the table half 13 by means of the pin 28, the free end of the bracket 27 being integrally formed with the L-shaped portion 28' adapted to enclose the table half 15 when the latter is rotated against the table half 13, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to retain the table in the collapsed position.

Thus, the device, as shown in Fig. 1, may be used to support refreshments or the like for the occupants when seated in the car. To collapse the table and to move the same to an inoperative position out of sight, it is only necessary to loosen the thumb screw 24, and to move the tubular member 23 upwardly onto the rod 21, whereupon the thumb screw can again be tightened. The brace 17 is then rotated outwardly to release the outer table half 15 and to permit the upward rotation of the same towards the table half 13. The latter is then rotated downwardly to the undersurface of the instrument board 11, whereupon the table half 15 is rotated upwardly against the table half 13 (Fig. 2), with the tubular member 23 then being snapped into the spring clamp 26, the hinges 14 will be of the friction type to retain the tabular portion 13 in the position shown in phantom on Fig. 2.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A folding table for automobiles comprising a first table half, means hingeably mounting said first table half along one end to the undersurface of the automobile instrument board, a second table half pivotally connected to the adjacent edge of said second table half, first brace means for releasably holding said second table half in the same plane as said first table half comprising an elongated bar pivotally mounted at one end of the undersurface of said first table half at one side thereof, said bar at the free end thereof being integrally formed with a U-shaped portion adapted to engage the edge of said second table half at the upper surface thereof with the said bar engaging the undersurface of said second table half whereby to retain the second table half in the same plane as said first table half, collapsible leg means for supporting said second table half when in the operative position comprising a rod, means pivotally mounting the upper end of said rod on the undersurface of said second table half, a tubular member telescopically receiving therewithin the lower end of said rod, thumb screw means for locking the position of said rod within said tubular member and resilient foot means on the lower end of said tubular rod, a spring clamp secured to the undersurface of said second table half adapted to resiliently retain said tubular member therewithin when said rod and tubular member are collapsed onto the undersurface of the second table half, and second brace means for releasably retaining said second table half when folded against said first table half.

2. A folding table according to claim 1, said second brace means comprising an elongated bar pivotally mounted on the undersurface of said first table half at the other side thereof, said bar at the free end thereof being integrally formed with an L-shaped portion adapted .References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Belden Aug. 18, 1925 Bayman et a1. Mar. 7, 1933 Westrope et a1 Aug. 2, 1938 Sparks Dec. 5, 1950 Henderson Apr. 8, 1952 Willis Oct. 25, 1955 Ashton June 12, 1956 

